In today’s world of high-tech gadgets and toys, some holiday gifts are truly eye-openers. For one young boy, it’s not about the latest iPhone or video game, but rather the gift of sight.
Muhammad, a 4-year-old boy from India, was born blind in both eyes.
Shortly after his birth, he and his mother, Iffa, came to the United States to try a special medical treatment for his condition.
Doctors attempted a cornea transplant, despite the operation’s high failure rate.
The story of the mother and child’s journey made it all the way to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s desk. He extended their stay in Connecticut while they continued to seek help for the boy.
After one seemingly unsuccessful surgery, Iffa wanted to get her son another operation in hopes of finally giving him vision.
The cost of a second surgery—$8,500—would be a steep hill to climb for Iffa.It was a Greenwich-based charity organization, The Needs Clearing House, that helped organize the fundraiser to get Muhammad the special surgery, which he underwent in August.
“We were a relatively new charity at the time, but we took on the project,” said Joe Kaliko, founder of the charity. “I spoke with the doctor’s office, and he agreed to take $3,000 dollars for the surgery, which is an awful lot less than $8,500. So then we started our campaign to start and raise those funds.”
Over the summer, Chicken Joe’s and other local businesses helped spread awareness and raise funds toward the new goal of $3,000 for the surgery.
But with the operation scheduled for August, funds were still needed with little time to raise them.
“We were still quite a bit short at the time,” Kaliko said. “We partnered with another charity called Amy’s Angels. They made up the difference of the $3,000, and we gave it to the mother.”
Now, just a couple months removed from the surgery, Muhammad makes monthly visits to the doctor to receive medicated eye drops.
“He was showing signs of rejection, but there were medications that were causing that,” Kaliko said. “He has limited sight now out of that eye where he had none before.
“It means a lot to help a child with the possibility of sight. The people in our community and in other communities rallied around to help them. The doctor made a huge contribution.”
The procedure was done at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y.
Joe Marini, the owner of Chicken Joe’s, says that hearing good news about one of his many fundraisers inspires him to keep giving back.
“Joe [Kaliko] was the one who brought this kid to my attention,” Marini said. “I do so many fundraisers, and you always like to hear something good come out of it. It’s like a miracle. I’m so happy that I’m a part of it.”
Just days before Christmas, Marini’s wife, Cristina, went shopping for presents for Muhammad in hopes of having them delivered by hand for the holiday.
“We want to see a picture of him having fun this year.”
Toys were delivered to Muhammad by the Marinis, Ralph Longo and Damian Marshall on Tuesday.
Muhammad’s mother writes, “Muhammad received the toys today and is playing with everything. He is very, very happy. Thank you to everyone!”
She also reports that Muhammad is doing well and has improved eyesight where the cornea transplant took place.
The Needs Clearing House is a public charity with 100 percent of donations going toward fundraising.
Its latest projects include funding a handicapped-accessible van and building a ramp at the home of two brothers with cerebral palsy.
Kaliko, a former first responder in Greenwich and current member of the board of directors of the Cos Cob Fire Police Patrol, says his charity was founded on the principal of making people aware of the specific needs of others less fortunate.
“People are reluctant to give when normally 25 cents on the dollar is paying for some guy’s car or salary,” Kaliko said. “We thought we would take those things out of the equation.
“Our mission is to try and learn about the needs and problems, and hook up the resources.”
